Blog | Stem Cell, PRP, Acupuncture in Queens & Long Island, New York

The ancient form of alternative medicine is growing in popularity as a viable treatment for a range of conditions. In the midst of the opioid crisis, acupuncture has been growing in popularity in the United States. Primarily used for pain management, this ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine, which involves thin needles being inserted into the skin, has gained support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicaid as a viable treatment in recent years.

Knee - The biggest joint in your body is sort of like a Swiss Army knife. It helps you sit, stand, lift, walk, run, and jump. It also has lots of parts that can get injured: tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bones that you can crack, tear, dislocate, and more.

The lumbar spine, or low back, is a remarkably well-engineered structure of interconnecting bones, joints, nerves, ligaments, and muscles all working together to provide support, strength, and flexibility? However, this complex structure also leaves the low back susceptible to injury and pain. To help understand this complicated topic, this article presents a model for understanding symptoms, physical findings, imaging studies and injection techniques to come to a precise diagnosis.

Arthritis is generally considered an old people’s disease, inevitable as we age. However, arthritis is also related to stress and wear and tear on the skeletal system, which can occur at any age. Genetics, labor-intensive jobs, high impact sports, previous injuries, and certain lifestyle habits such as smoking are all contributory factors. There are different forms of arthritis, brought on in different ways. While they can all be painful and uncomfortable, it is good to understand the different conditions to best know how to treat them.

If you’re considering an anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) surgery for neck pain, it’s common to worry about how much your neck will be able to move after the procedure. After all, one or more of your neck’s mobile joints would be fused solid and cease to move. So how will that affect your quality of life? Fortunately, ACDF patients typically have good outcomes, both in terms of pain relief and quality of life after the procedure. Here are three things to know about neck mobility following an ACDF.

Your Shoulder - It’s not just a simple joint - it’s a complex structure of muscles and tendons (which hold your muscles to your bones). It lets you scratch your back, drive your car, or get something off a shelf. But all those moving parts mean things can go wrong, which is why so many people have shoulder problems at some point.

Hand and Wrist Injuries - Carpal tunnel syndrome -- numbness that’s caused by a pinched nerve in your wrist -- takes a lot of heat for computer-related hand and wrist injuries. But you’re more likely to get it if you work with tools that vibrate or use a repetitive, twisting motion to get your job done. To Help Prevent It: Take breaks often. Talk with your doctor or an occupational therapist. They may suggest wearing a brace or that a change in position could help.

If you’re considering surgery for neck pain, one of your concerns might be whether the procedure could actually make symptoms worse. Cervical spine surgery, or surgery around the neck, often has high success rates. No surgery, however, is free of some risk. As with any surgery, one of the keys to success is to first ensure that you’re a good candidate for the procedure. If your surgeon is able to accurately diagnose the problem, then your chances for success are favorable and the risk of persistent neck pain can be reduced.

Acupuncture - It may look uncomfortable, but this traditional Chinese practice doesn't hurt when it's done by a licensed pro. He puts thin needles just under the skin at certain points in your body. It may help ease the long-term pain in your knees, lower back, and neck. You can also try it for headaches. Exactly how it does the job isn't clear. Just believing it works may be part of it.

Are you worried that working out could cause more knee damage or pain? As long as your doctor says it’s OK, the best thing you can do is to strengthen the muscles that support your knee and keep them flexible. Start slowly, and build up over time. Talk to your doctor about which specific exercises are good for you.